GUIDING THE NARRATIVE

Mona AI Marri, Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council, Director-General of the Government of Dubai Media Office, and President of the Dubai Press Club, has been pivotal in shaping the emirate's media landscape. Now she's bringing Al, filming, and gaming into the spotlight.

- LAYAN ABO SHKIER

In December 2024, the announcement of new legislation expanding the Dubai Media Council's mandate marked a transformative phase for Dubai's media landscape. Under this framework, industries like film and gaming received heightened focus, with the creation of the Dubai Films and Games Commission. For Mona AI Marri, who has been at the helm of Dubai's media landscape for over two decades, this legislation is her compass today to lead the sector into a new era.

AI Marri has been the vice chairperson and managing director of the Dubai Media Council since 2021. She is also the director-general of the Government of Dubai Media Office (GDMO) and the president of the Dubai Press Club (DPC). The GDMO is responsible for implementing strategic communication plans for the Government of Dubai and sharing government-related news in cooperation with local government agencies. It also manages relationships and coordination between the Government of Dubai and local and international media.

The U.A.E.'s media market is projected to grow by 2.14% between 2025 and 2029, reaching a market volume of $2.83 billion by 2029, according to Statista. And as she leads an industry that is set for this much growth, AI Marri says she has a clear roadmap to follow, describing it as a "transformative phase for Dubai's media landscape." Commissioned by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid AI Maktoum to "enhance Dubai's narrative on the global stage," AI Marri says that her various leadership roles along the way have provided her with a platform to drive this vision forward.